Printing-telegraph system.



A. F. DIXON. PRINTING TELEGRAPH SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED APR.1 5.I915.

Patented July 2, 1918.

AMOS F. DIXON, U F NEWARK NE'W Jlilfttfillf'f, AESItGIlIOlit, BY IVEESHE ASEI lil'flyli'lill'llfS, "T WESTERN ELECTRIC COILVIPANY, IIQIGUEFQEATJEIE, it. CQJR-PORATIGN' fill HIE'W Ytlfil l,

PRIIQ'TING-TELEGRAPH SYEiTEM.

Specification of Letters ftatent.

Patented July 25, ttlllii Application filed April 15, 1915p Serial No. 215%.

Tr; all whom it may concern: H

Be it known that 1, Autos F. DIXON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing-Telegraph Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to printing telegraph systems and. its principal object .is to provide an improved system, particularly applicable where the various stations are separated by comparatively short distances.

The invention finds an especially ready field in large mercantile or manufacturing establishments where it is necessary for a number of departments to receive duplicate copies of ordersa etc the custom in the past having been to prepare the proper number of duplicates on a typewriting machine, the copies then being delivered to the necessary points by messengers. This -is an expensive, slow and unreliable method of communication which the present invention, by providing an instantaneous, enact and inexperr sive duplication of records at the desired points is designed to supersede. The operations are performed electro n'echanically and may be controlled from a single central point or the system may be so arranged as to provide for intercornmunication as best suits the particular conditions to be fulfilled. r

In accordance. with its general features, the invention contemplates a: controller adaptedto selectively supply current to a plurality of transmission lines, eaclrline be ing associated with one of a plurality of selecting electro-mechanisms, the coopcra tion of which causes the performance of any desired operation as, for example, the selecting of a type, the closing of a switch, etc. An improved arrangement is provided whereby the, apparatus is returned to normal, the controller being prevented from attaining this condition until the selecting apparatus at all of the stations has performed its proper functions, thus preventing incomplete or otherwise inaccurate records froin being produced at any point. The use of a plurality of'lines renders it unnecessary to employ a sequence. of impulses, conse quently eliminating expensive and complicated apparatus in those fields Where the various "stations are separated such short distances that the additional. line construction is less expensive and objectionable than impulse producing apparatus.

The above and other objects of this invention Will be fully set forth in th following description and claims, and Will be more readily understood by reference tothe accompanying drawing in which Figure it shows the system of connections and part of the mechanism of the preferred embodiment diagrammatically and Fig. 2 is a, view of a type or operation controlling lever cot5perating With the selecting disks.

Two stations, A and. B, are shown interconnected by a plurality of transmission lines 5, 6, 7, 8. and 9 and a control conductor 10. There may be as many stations as desired, but since they will all be similar to A and B, there is no necessity for showing; more. Preferably at one of the stations, as for example station A, there is a controller for selectively influencing the flow ofcurrent over-lines dfto 9 inclusive, although if no home record is desi ed, the con troller may be located at some other point. This controller consists of a plurality of control switches 15, 1.6, 1?, 18 and if), each as sociated-With one of the lines 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 respectively. it is likewise provided With a power switch '20, associated. with a grounded source of energyfil and a pair of lockm switches 22 and. 23, The fixed contacts of switches 22 and 23 are connected to one terminal of a locking magnet 2 1, the other terminal of WlllOlllS connected to a grounded source of energy 25. The movable contact of switch 28 is joined to conductor 10.

Control switches to 19 inclusive are selcctivel y actuated by any ot the Well known means, as for example a plurality of char acter keys arranged in the form of an ordinary typewriter keyboard, or an automatic actuator controlled by a perforated paper tape or the like. In either case it is preterable to have this apparatus also operate switches 20 and 22. Looking magnet Qetmay be arranged in any of the Well known Ways, so that when it is energizedby the closing of switch 22, it holds all of the switches 15 to 19., which have been actuated, in this condition, retains switch 20 in-closed condition and by also holding switch 23 in closed condition establishes a holding" Glltillll; for

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lllti itself, independent of switch 22 which need be closed only momentarily, as will be hercinai'ter explained. A

Each of the lines'5 to 9 inclusive is associated at each station with an individual selecting device. These devices comprise a plurality of clectroniagnets 35, 36, ?-f, 38 and 39 which, with the associated selecting disks 45,46, 47, i8 and 49 connected to and cle about the type shaft 61, and of which some are adapted to stop the type wheel in.

any desired position, and others are adapted to control circuit contacts, when presented with a continuous vertical row of notches, as will be hereinafter explained.

Normally, the type controlling levers are depressed below the level of stoparm 63,

the operation-controlling levers are held in an inactive position and the vertical arms of all of these levers are held away from the peripheries of the disks by release and restoring levers 70 which are controlled by a pair of release magnets 71. The inner cir-' cular shaped ends of levers 70 are normally held depressed by suitable retractile springs 72, but this force is overcome and the inner ends are raised when release magnets 71 are energized,

One of the terminals'of the windings of release magnets 71 is connected'to a grounded source of energy 75 and one of the lovers is provided with a pair of switches 76 and 77. These switches normally stand open, but are adapted to be closed when rcleas'e magnets 71 are energized. The fixed contact of switch. 76 is connected to an armature 78 of a release control relay 79, while the movable contact thereof is connected to the terminalsof release magnets 71 and a front contact-coperating with the armature 78. The f xed contact of switch 77 is connected to a grounded source of energy 82 and its movable contact is grounded through the winding of a start control relay 83. Armature 78 of release control relay 79 is likewise connected to conductor 10 and a back contact coiiperatiiig with an armature 84 of a clear-out relay 85. Release control relay 79 is also provided with an armature 86 connected to a holding winding 87 or" clear-out relay 85=and cooperating with a front contact connected by a grounded or operation selecting levers (34.

revisit source of energy 88. Clear-out relay 85 is provided with an operating Winding 90, one terminal of which is connected to a grounded source of energy 91, the other terminal being associated with contacts controlled by the levers 64:. Some of these contacts a'reformed by the engagement oi the character-selecting levers 64; and stop arm 63, while others are provided by suitable switches controlled by the operation selecting levers 614., as will be hereinafter ex plained. f

In the circuits including the stop arm (33 is a printing magnet- 92 and a spacedock relay- 93. The space-lock relay controls the action of a spacing magnet 9l-by comp'leting a circuit tliei'ethrougli from a grounded source of energy 95. Start control relay 83 causes the energization of a start magnet 96 by completing a circuit therethrougli from a grounded source of energy 97 and when this'magne't is energized, it withdraws a suitablepawl from a ratchetwheel on shaft- 61, allowing the shaft to be rotated by a spring which. is always tciidiiig to rotate the type-wheel 62 in the direction of the arrow as disclosed in U. S. Patent 1,103,133, issued July 14, 1914-.

In addition to the apparatus already described, thcrc is a line fecdnnagnet 100 for feeding the paper line by line; a shift mugnet 101 for causing the type-wheel to be.

raised so that its lower row of characters is in printing position and a carriage return magnet 102 for causingthe paper. carriage to be returned to the beginning of a line of print. These magnets are respectively controlled by switches 105, 106 and 107 which are actuated by certain of the disk selected levers 6 1. The apparatus associated with and controlled by the start, space, printing, line' feed, shift and carriage return inag nets may be of any desired and appropriate being that shown in the above mentioned U. S. Patent.

nets to 39, inclusive, uiidre lcasc control relay 49 to ground. A circuit is also closed from grounded source 25 through locking magnet 24 and SWliCli 22 to ground. The first circuits traced cause the selected mugnets 3:) to 39 inclusive to rotate their corrosponding disks 4-5 .to 5'9 inclusive through the agency of levers 55 to 59 inclusive; rh-

form of construction, the preferred form sulting in a continuous row of notches (l0 being presented before only one of the type These cir- I completes a holding tltl d ti

eela-ii cuits also cause the release control relay 79 to pull up its arn'iatures T8 and 86 whose functions will he presently described. The circuit through locking magnet 2% causes this magnet through the agency of holding mechanism to hold all of the operated switches 15 to 1') inclusive and switch 20 in closed position and by closing switch 23, circuit for itself from grounded source 25 through switch 23, conductor l0 and the hack contact and armature 84 of the clcacout relay 85.

The attraction of armature 78 of release control relay completes circuits from grounded sources 75 magnets 71, front contact and armature 78 of release control relay 79 and back con tact and arn'iature 84- .ot clea1.'-out relay to ground; The completion of this circuit causes release magnets 71 to elevate the inner ends ot'rclease levers 70, allowing all of the levers tilto attempt to enter the slots 60. All but one of these levers, however, as hereinhetore explained, are prevented from so moving by the unuotched portion of the periphery of at l6; t one of the disks 45 to 49 inclusive.

il he' movement oi the right-hand release lever 1'0 closes switchep 6 and 77. Switch 76 completes circuits "from sources 75 through release magnets Tl to ground at armature til inde cn lent of the trout contact of release comrol'relay 79 so that the selected lever til will not he pren'laturely depressed but this action heinu now dependent upon the energization of cleai out relay 85, will he hereinafter explained. The closing of switch 77 completes a circuit from grounded source 82 through the start control relay 83. selection has been a type selection, in pulling up its armature completes a circuit "from grounded source 97, switch ltlligslalt magnet 96 to ground at armature 84- ot clean out relay 85. The start magnet thereupon allows the type whee 62, to be rotated in the direction of inner end of one of the lovers 64lhas been elevated, arm 63 will he engaged thereby and the type wheel will be arrested in position to print the desired character. The engagement of the selected lever 64 and arm 63 completes a circuit from grounded source 91, operating winding of clear-out relay 85, operating: winding of the space-loch relay 93, printing magnet- 92, arm 63 and lever (it to ground. 'ihereupon printing niagnet 92, through the agency of the printing platen, forces the paper against the desired type while the energization of space-lock relay 93 completes a circuit from grounded source through the s n-ice magnet 94 which initiates the movement or the paper carriage lor spacing "for the next character to he se lected. Altl'iough the printing magnet 92 through the release.

Start control relay 83, if the the arrow and since the.

due to the circuit just. traced, through its is operating winding 90, causes the attraction of armature 84 which, if therelease control relay is still energized, completes a holding circuit from grounded source 88, frontcontact and-armature 86 of release control relay so 79, holdiiig Winding 87 of clear-out relay toground art-armature 845. The attraction of armature 84'also interrupts the previously traced circuits through switch 76 and release magnet and the locking; magnet 2-1, and also that: through the start magnet 96. Springs '52 thereupon depress levers 70 and levers 64 are all, returned to normal Shaft 61 is also held lroin rotation by the by magnet 96. 1 f now, switch 22 has been opened. by the; controller mechanism, the interruption of the holding circuit through magnet :24 causes ,the ,release of the selected switches 15 to 19, inclusive, together with or;

switches 20 and'23. The opening of so lected switches 15 to 19 inclusive and switch 20 in'teriaipts the circuit through the selected magnets 35 to 39 inclusive, and the'release control relay clear-out relay 85 is broken at armature 86 of release ,coiitrol relay 79 and all of the apparatus will he returned to normal, a

character has been printed and the carriage has been moved to present; a clean space for the next character.

In case it is desired to riage withol-it printing, switches 15120 19 in elusive will he so selectively closed that disks 45 to 49 inclusive will he moved to present a continuous row of notches before the select ing lever 64- which controls the actuation of spacing switch 110. The closing of this switch closes a circuit 91 through the operating winding 90 of clear-out relay 85, operating" winding of space-lock relay 93' to ground. Space .loclr relay 93 and clear-out relay 85 perform their functions as hereinhet'ore described, the difference in the operations-being that armature 84- of clearout relay 85 is energized too soon to allow the energization of start mag):-

net 96 and the type shaft is not. released.

The operation of the line feeding n'ieohcircuit, through the start magnet 96. The en mechanism to perform 70 71, that through switch 23 35 pawl controlled 9o 79, whereupon the holding cir-- 10o cuit through the [holding winding 87 'ofl paper 19 space the paper can from grounded source '115 only 120 position.

until the desired ergization of line feed magnet 100 causes the paperto be fed up one lin zation of clear out relay 85, which returns the apparatus to normal as hereinbefore de- The breaking of the circuit through i start magnet 96 prevents the type shaft from feeding operation.

SCIl bed.

rotating during the In order to print from type, shift switch which results in the encr magnet 101. The sides shifting the type w holding circuit from through an unshift switch once shifted, the type whe this condition until that unshiit switch upon the previously through shift magnet e and the energithe lower row of 10C is selectively closed,

gization of shift action of this magnet, be-

heel completes a grounded source 111 112 so that when el will remain in the disks are so moved 112 is actuated, wheretraced holding circuit 101 is broken.

he paper carriage is returned to the beginning of a line by the actuation of ,resulting in the energize.-

carriage tion of carriage return magnet 102. This magnet, besides causing the return of the carriage, completes itself from grounded sour paper carriage switch 115,

a holding circuit for ce 111 through a which switch is opened when the carriage reaches its normal The pren'iatu rc carriage 1s arresting of the therefore prevented.

In the foregoing descr-iption,thc operaset forth but the place at station 13 times of the apparatus at station A have been same actions have taken and all other stations associated with lines 5 to 9 inclusive. It

will,

therefore, be readily apparent that the deenergization of. locki ng magnet 24 is depend out upon the operation of all of theclear-out relays 85, tl switches 15 to 19 inclusive slowest printer has attract/e lat a given selection of the will be maintained character 01? Qp'erat on is performed-and the clear-out relay of the (1 its armature 84-.

, completion of an operation.

a plurality of transmission lines for interconnecting a plurality of stations, select ing apparatus at each station for performing the desired operations, a current controller associated with said. lines for effecting the operation or said appaiz-itus, and a self-locking clear-out relay cooperating with said system for restoring the controller and the selecting apparatus to normal after the 3. A printing telegraph system comprising a plurality of transmission lines, selecting apparatus at each station for performing the desired operations, a current controller as sociated with said lines for effecting the operation of said apparatus, a release control relay-controlling the initiation of the performance of the selectin operation, and a clehr-out relay associate( with said release control relay, said apparatus and said con troller for restoring the controller and the selecting appa atus to normal after the com pletion of an operation.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 13th day of April, A. I). 1.915.

AMOS F. DIXON. 

